Arms deal still mid-air
THE controversial multi-billion arms deal seems set to continue haunting the government.
Yesterday, head of the Hawks, Anwa Dramat, told Parliament's standing committee on public accounts that there were still two active investigations into R450million worth of alleged bribes by arms manufacturers who benefited from the deal.
The R50billion arms deal was signed in 1998. By 2002, an investigation was launched into allegations that hundreds of millions of rands worth of bribes were paid by international weapons companies to politically connected South Africans to secure the deal.
Fingers were pointed at key ANC leaders including former president Thabo Mbeki, the late former defence minister Joe Modise, his then successor and now Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota with regard to the deal.
But the investigation never reached any conclusion, and seemed, until yesterday, to have been put on the back burner.
Dramat said an estimated R300million could have been paid in bribes related to a deal with British Aerospace Systems, and R140million in bribes related to the deal with the German Frigate Consortium. BAE supplied 50 Hawk and Gripen fighter jets to South Africa. The German Frigate Consortium supplied the SA navy with four warships.
It has been alleged that Chippy Shaik, the brother of secret service head Mo Shaik and convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik, received a bribe of R21million in exchange for an alleged promise that warship company Thyssen would win a contract to provide the South African navy with four warships.
Dramat also revealed that when the Scorpions were disbanded last year, their investigation into the German Frigate Consortium's leg of the arms deal was not transferred to the Hawks.
The case only became active in November last year after Richard Young laid new criminal charges of corruption at the Knysna police station in Western Cape, Dramat admitted.
Young is a arms dealer who lost out in the arms deal and then became a corruption buster.
Dramat said the docket had been handed over to the NPA in June to decide whether to prosecute.
"The question is whether it is in the best interests of the country to pursue these investigations, which will take at least five to 10 years and cost more than R10million. That is for Parliament to decide."
He was forced to retract this statement after angry MPs told him it was up to the police to collect evidence and then for the prosecuting authorities to decide if there was a case.
National Director of Public Prosecution Menzi Simelane said the NPA had received the docket from the Hawks and had handed it over to the serious and commercial crimes unit.
Hype
There can never be a conclusive decision on this issue due to the intensity of secrecy concerning the people who benefitted from this deal. I figure it to be a threat to the country's security, so for the sake of stability I fully support the non-persuance of the case by the NPA. There are far too many high profile people involved and that alone is a major threat to our political and economic stability.Report Abuse
Mosito
Let them pursue this case....people are rich now because they are in government...maybe we can recoup those millions and start building houses for our voters....The scorpions were disbanded because they were getting closer to the BIG fish...now these Hawks are nothing but a political tool to arrest journalistic instead of pursuing criminals that are sitting in government...in fact if we are serious we should get the FBI or the Scotland Yard to come and hound this criminals and throw them where the should have been in the first place......gaol.Report Abuse
Ntebaleng
Everything on this case look blurry - the chances of a conclusive case is are very slim - if this case is a waste of money i think it should be dropped - one more thing that makes me think it is infule exersice is that this is driven more by politics and sentiments than by reason or substance - this has bee going on for yrs and to continue with it is actually a waste of resources - all countries will be defensive and there is little prooof that this can be concluded - this is a ripply type case - let reason prevail and this should be dropped for there are more pressing matters to work on - this is a smear type case and the country will not benefit from itReport Abuse
Mavhala
It about time for all South African to know the truth, to know exactly what happened regarding the arms deal. ayeye Schabir Shaik this time you are going for life!!Report Abuse
Sageville
They assigned 1 (one) (a single) person to wade through all the boxes of info and computers to "investigate" the arms deal.I think we can clearly see what priority the government has assigned this case.
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Idohl
What? This case is as important as ever. The country must lead by example. High profile or no high profile. This is not Animal Farm, all are equal. The R10m belongs to us, I think it will be worth it unlike for it to be given to a fellow comrade in the form of a tender or missapropriation. Practice what you preach.Report Abuse
Takzinto
10m is not something to play with as South Africans. We need service delivery instead of wasting money on criminal investigations. We all know that this case will never go anywere.Report Abuse
Garang
Its common knowledge that there is no deal where big money is involved, that goes through without some palm greasing.Report Abuse
Sageville
R10 million thats would pay for 66% of Zuma's wives for a whole year!Report Abuse
piet
will people 4get about the past and stop digging samthing dat was tried b4 and failed.can we move on?since 6yrs ago is de same "ARMS DEAL ,ARMS DEAL"
WER IS DE MONEY RECOVERED,OR IS JUST WANT TO START DE COURT CASES DAT WIL ALSO MILK OUT MILLIONS AGAIN
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